US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 8724

Protection of oil reserves; contracts for conservation

(a)
To consolidate and protect the oil lands owned by the United States, the Secretary may—
(1)
contract with owners and lessees of land inside or adjoining naval petroleum reserves for—
(A)
conservation of oil and gas; and
(B)
compensation for estimated drainage in lieu of drilling or operating offset wells; and
(2)
acquire privately owned lands or leases inside Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 by exchange of—
(A)
lands of the United States inside Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1;
(B)
the right to royalty production from any of the naval petroleum reserves; and
(C)
the right to any money due the United States as a result of the wrongful extraction of petroleum products from lands inside Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1.
(b)
The Secretary shall report annually to Congress all agreements under this section.

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 104170A Stat. 458Pub. L. 87–796, § 1(4)76 Stat. 904Pub. L. 94–258, title II, § 201(5)90 Stat. 309Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 513(32)(A)94 Stat. 2933Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(d)(5)132 Stat. 1836(, , § 7424; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 8724, , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

7424

34 U.S.C. 524 (4th par., less 1st proviso).

June 4, 1920, ch. 228 (4th par., less 1st proviso, of amended 3d and 4th provisos), 41 Stat. 813; June 30, 1938, ch. 851, § 1, 52 Stat. 1252; June 17, 1944, ch. 262, 58 Stat. 282.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–232section 7424 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 96–5131980—Subsec. (a). substituted “Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1” for “naval petroleum reserve numbered 1” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 94–2581976—Subsec. (a). struck out “of the Navy” after “Secretary”, “and oil shale” after “petroleum” in par. (1), and “in the ground” after “conservation” in subpar. (A) of par. (1).

Pub. L. 87–7961962—Subsec. (a). inserted provisions in cl. (1) empowering the Secretary to contract with owners and lessees of land inside or adjoining oil shale reserves.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–232section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232section 3001 of this titleAmendment by effective , with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see , set out as a note preceding .

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–513section 701(b)(3) of Pub. L. 96–513section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .